Lurking in the shadows or sneaking around castles, Universal Monsters, their stories, and their numerous movies have filled people with fright. Whether it is a quick demise or a lingering suffering, the twisted tales have people wondering if there ever is a happily ever after. Within Darkmoor, the Dark Universe land within Epic Universe, the juxtaposition of good versus evil is concept that has no clear designation.
While the How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk is uplifting and Super Nintendo World is playful, the Dark Universe area is more introspective. Although the portal touts, “They’re alive,” the simple phrase is more than a reference to creatures rising from darken graves. There is a sense of liveliness that fuels every experience within the area.
First and foremost, the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment ride is the crowning achievement of the land. Even before guests enter the queue, the castle looming in the distance draws people to its doors. It does not matter if peril or plunder is kept inside. People cannot resist its pull.
The ride is a celebration of epic storytelling. Although Igor might be in charge of every twist and turn, facing those iconic characters that have filled people’s nightmares forever is invigorating. Dracula might long to break free and soar away, but his fate is not written in stone. Just like the many other Universal Monsters, being captured does not necessarily mean being put into chains.
Although the ups, downs, and bumps along the way are unpredictable, the storyline raises a curious point. Who is really the monster? Is the person wielding the chains just as dangerous as the person being captured? That debate can be seen throughout the Dark Universe world, just as it is within the movies that created their fame.
While many people will run to the back of the park to jump on the ride, this area deserves time where guests stroll through the streets, see the nuances, and perchance meet one of its alluring characters. Igor might be searching for parts or even offers a joke to calm the nerves, he is just one of many characters strolling the area.
The Invisible Man with his dapper appearance can sometimes immortalize when it is least expected. He is a man who knows to make his case for going off into the night with a stranger.
The most interesting character was the violinist who played a tune around the fountain. Those melancholy notes lingered in the air and seemed to entrance everyone to stay a spell longer.
That feeling of “being alive” is clear in this area. Guests feel alive themselves as the unexpected happens. From the food and beverages to the character meet and greets, no one is blindly walking through this area without being aware of every detail.
Overall, the Dark Universe area is the most immersive spot of all the lands. It captures that Universal Monsters are truly about, people who can be misunderstood but are making the most out of the life that they are given. The world might be dark, twisted, and unpredictable, but those moments make an inedible impact that should never be erased.
Grab some meat on a stake, raise a glass of a robust ale, and toast to a world where good and evil can exist alongside the light. Sometimes those two worlds need to collide.